5th gen vs. 80 series

New here. I'm sure you get a lot of "What do you think..." threads. Here's another.
I've been driving an 80 series Land Cruisers for 11 years. I currently own a '97 with 35's, a 4 inch lift, front and rear factory lockers, ARB bumper, and full length body armor quality roof rack.

I love it and abuse it. Work means that I have time to play but not enough time to work on it whenever I get an emissions code or the electrical has an issue. I'm looking for something as worthy and capable as this. I've driven the 5th gens as rentals and like them.

The few threads I've read about the 5th gens imply that 35's run with trimming, but the pictures I've seen make me think articulation is going to be an issue, but I obviously don't know what I'm talking about after only browsing a few threads.

My question is, what version, features, and mods are required to end up with a worthy replacement, or if I should dump a lot less than $40k into having someone refurbish an 80 series so I don't have to work on it like it's 20 years old? I could even get heated seats.

There's something to be said for getting something that might last 20 years without being nursed along.

Thanks in advance!

 

I would get a trail with kdss or sr5 late model 5th gen you'll have to decide on that choice, i wont bother trying to explain. Test drive both. I have a 2015 trail with kdss, 3" lift, 295/70/17 and 45,000 miles, half of which is off roading or mountain driving. I have had zero repair issues. It is a slug, especially after steel skids and sliders, but it does what i need it to, especially getting me to the places i love, ski resorts/trail heads/offroading without issue. It is also a slug before any of those modifications. If you arent impressed with either the sr5 or trail and your land cruiser can wait 2-3 years, there are rumors that the 6th gen 4runner will drop in 2019. But there are zero facts about specs.

 

If you are dead set on 35's then you would probably end up wanting to regear as well. 35's will also not fit easily, you will need to do a bunch of trimming and a cab mount chop. @Relentless has 35's on his 5th gen maybe he can give you some insight.

That is a pretty sweet 80 series you got there...5th gens are great rigs and would definitely treat you right but I would have a hard time getting rid of that LC if I were you.

 

Thanks! Yeah, I don't intend to get rid of it. We put over 20,000 miles on it 2016-2017. A few trips really required the capability it has. Most would have been ok with something less capable. I really like having the option though when I see a trail or obstacle to just do it without having to wonder if I can. I think it might make sense to save it for those special vacations and get a 4runner for the miles and mild trips. I have pushed it to it's limits, and it sounds like those limits are different than what I could reasonably expect to get from a modified 4runner.

 

35's and long travel, trimming required but it can be made to work. This rig measures out to 29" flex on a forklift, and thats before the front hits bump stop due to heavy spring rate.

 

That's pretty great. Nice truck. So, what are the specs and what did you have to do? I've been reading that you don't get kdss if you're going to do modifications and that they only come with rear lockers. How do you lock the front?

This is kind of my dilemma. My 97 80 series cost $8500 with front and rear lockers, the lift, and the tires. I upgraded the lift to handle more weight. If I wanted to bring a stock vehicle up to spec it would cost me about $1000 for a lift, and $1,600 for aftermarket lockers front and rear. Another $4,000 would give me armor all around (both bumpers, rear tire carrier, sliders, skid plates, cat protection.) The next $15-20k would be turning the clock back 20 years on everything. The plastic and rubber are brittle and worn. The leather is hard. The headgasket should be replaced and I should take care of all the "while you're in there..." preventative issues. Don't get me wrong, it's very reliable, but I need to do preventative maintenance on known issues to keep it that way.

I think what I'd like to do is split the difference. I could get a low mileage capable 4runner and baseline the 80 for the cost of a 4runner setup like the one pictured above. I can use the 4r for most trips and take the 80 out for anything extreme.

 

Its not cheap to do to a IFS rig, especially a new 5th gen. Trail edition. The trail comes with rear e locker, A-trac, crawl control, etc. Lots of electronics that are not completely necessary for the oldschool wheelers that know what they're doing, but its the way things are moving nowadays.
They do not have a front locker(only rigs I know you can get front lockers in is a Jeep Rubicon or a Ram Powerwagon). You could add one (ARB) but in my experiences with my 4th gen thats got the same long travel along with dual ARBs, armored and on 35's nearly every time you use the front locker on these newer rigs they snap a tie rod and in some cases a CV as well if not properly strapped with the long travel. Spare parts and tools necessary for the harder wheeling with them.
Honestly it isnt for everyone- start with a $40k+ rig, then dump a ton in aftermarket parts into it just to go scratch, bang, and dent it on the trail. Its a real capable rig, great on expo/distance trips, and comfortable with all the modern amenities, but the rig above has about $19k of parts thrown at it when you add up all the suspension/wheels/tires/LED lights/armor and cargo add on's(rack and drawer systems) so really it depends on what you want to do with it and how much $$ you want to throw at it.

Personally I'd do a non-KDSS Trail, and throw on some Kings and TC UCAs+ rear links, 33's and throw basic armor and a rack on it and use it for exploring and camping but not too much into the hard crawling duties and have a dedicated trail rig that you dont need to depend on as a DD. Also have a tow rig for it so if you break you arent stranded on some trail somewhere with no way to get home aside from paying for a tow.

 

I like it. Thanks! I think this is the right direction.